I-10 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
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I-10 Pavement Rehabilitation Project RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 8 – RIV – 10 (PM R104.9/R134.0) 1C082/0816000087 Draft Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/ Environmental Assessment Prepared by the State of California, Department of Transportation The environmental review, consultation, and any other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by Caltrans pursuant to 23 USC 327 and the Memorandum of Understanding dated December 23, 2016 and executed by FHWA and Caltrans. May 2019 Left Blank Intentionally General Information about This Document What’s in this document: The California Department of Transportation (Department), as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has prepared this Initial Study/Environmental Assessment (IS/EA), which examines the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives being considered for the proposed project located in Riverside County, California. The Department is the lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Department is the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The document tells you why the project is being proposed, what alternatives we have considered for the project, how the existing environment could be affected by the project, the potential impacts of each of the alternatives, and the proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures. What you should do: • Please read this document. • Additional copies of this document and related technical studies are available for review at: Department of Transportation, Caltrans District 8 12th Floor 464 W. 4th Street San Bernardino, CA 92401 • This document may be downloaded at the following website: www.dot.ca.gov/d8/ • We’d like to hear what you think. If you have any comments about the proposed project, please call (909) 806-2541, or send your written comments to Caltrans by the deadline. • Send comments via postal mail to: Antonia Toledo, Environmental Branch Chief Department of Transportation Caltrans District 8 Environmental Planning (MS 820) 464 W. 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401 • Send comments via email to: [email protected] • Be sure to send comments by the deadline: June 24, 2019 What happens next: After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, Caltrans may: (1) give environmental approval to the proposed project, (2) do additional environmental studies, or (3) abandon the project. If the project is given environmental approval and funding is obtained, Caltrans could design and construct all or part of the project. Alternative Formats: For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in Braille, in large print, on audiocassette, or on computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please call or write Caltrans, Attn: Terri Kasinga, Chief, Public Affairs, 464 West 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA 92401; (909) 383-4646 (Voice), or use the California Relay Service 1 (800) 735- 2929 (TTY), 1 (800) 735-2929 (Voice) or 711. This page intentionally left blank SCH:____________ Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Pursuant to: Division 13, Public Resources Code Project Description The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to rehabilitate the existing asphalt concrete (AC) pavement on Interstate 10 (I-10) from West of the SR-177/I-10 Separation, at Post Mile (PM) R104.9, to 1.05 miles west of the Wiley’s Well Road Overcrossing (PM R134.0) in the County of Riverside. Rehabilitation activities include removal and replacement of existing inside and outside shoulders, guardrails, rumble strips, drainage inlets, and dikes, and installation of oversized drains. The proposed project will also involve upgrades to ramp facilities for ADA compliance, installation of two temporary detour lanes in the existing median, extension of existing rock slope protection (RSP) at 44 bridge locations, and hydroseeding the median for erosion control and vegetation restoration. Determination This proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that it is Caltrans’ intent to adopt a MND for this project. This does not mean that Caltrans’ decision regarding the project is final. This MND is subject to change based on comments received by interested agencies and the public. Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study for this project, and pending public review, expects to determine that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: The proposed project would have no impact on aesthetics, agricultural and forest resources, air quality, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, land use and planning, mineral resources, noise, population and housing, public services, recreation, transportation/traffic, tribal cultural resources, or utilities and service systems. The proposed project would have less than significant impact on cultural resources, and hydrology and water quality. The proposed project would have less than significant impacts with mitigation on biological resources. To avoid and/or minimize potential impacts to biological resources, the following measures will be implemented. WQ-1: Construction General Permit. Prior to commencement of construction activities, the contractor shall obtain coverage under the State Water Resources Control Board’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction and Land Disturbance Activities (Construction General Permit), Order No. 2009-0009-DWQ, as amended by 2010- 0014-DWG and 2012-0006-DWQ, NPDES No. CAS000002, or any other subsequent permit. This shall include submission of Permit Registration Documents (PRDs), including Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the permit to the State Water Resources Control Board via the Stormwater Multiple Application and Report Tracking System (SMARTS). Construction activities shall not commence until a Waste Discharge Identification Number (WDID) is obtained from SMARTS. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) shall be prepared and implemented to address all construction-related activities, equipment, and materials that have the potential to impact water quality. WQ-2: Caltrans MS4 Permit. The contractor shall comply with the provisions of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, Statewide Storm Water Permit, Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for the State of California, Department of Transportation Order No. 2012-0011-DWQ (Caltrans MS4 Permit), as amended by Order No. 2014-0006-EXEC, Order No. 2014-0077-DWQ, and Order No. 2015-0036-EXEC, NPDES No. CAS000003, or any subsequent permit. Caltrans- approved Design Pollution Prevention BMPs and Treatment BMPs shall be implemented to the maximum extent practicable (MEP), consistent with the requirements of the Caltrans MS4Permit. BIO-1: Biological Monitor. An authorized contractor supplied biologist will be designated to oversee compliance of all protective measures and will monitor all construction-related activities. The biological monitor will notify the resident engineer of project activities that may not be in compliance. The resident engineer will stop work until the protective measures are implemented fully. BIO-2: Worker Environmental Awareness Training. A qualified biologist will present to each employee (including temporary, contractors, and subcontractors) a worker environmental awareness training, prior to the initiation of work. They will be advised of the special status species in the project area, the steps to avoid impacts to the species and the potential penalties for taking such species. At a minimum, the program will include the following topics: occurrence of the listed and sensitive species in the area, their general ecology, sensitivity of the species to human activities, legal protection afforded these species, penalties for violations of Federal and State laws, reporting requirements, and project features designed to reduce the impacts to these species and promote continued successful occupation of the project area environs. Included in this program will be color photos of the listed species, which will be shown to the employees. Following the education program, the photos will be posted in the contractor and resident engineer office, where they will remain through the duration of the project. The contractor, resident engineer, and the qualified biologist will be responsible for ensuring that employees are aware of the listed species. If additional employees are added to the project after initiation, they will receive instruction prior to working on the project. BIO-3: Materials and Spoils. Project materials will not be cast from the project site into nearby habitats and project related debris, spoils, and trash will be contained and removed to a proper disposal facility. BIO-4: Equipment Staging. Equipment, vehicles, and materials staged and stored in Caltrans right-of-way will be sited in previously paved or previously disturbed areas only and will avoid native vegetation. BIO-5: De-Watering Plan. For all bridges that cross jurisdictional drainages and are susceptible to running water, a de-watering/water control plan must be created and implemented in accordance with Caltrans Water Control Standard Specifications (Standard Specification 13-4.03G) if water is present or could be present